Male gamers make up about 50% of gamers, but they also make up 94% of game addicts. There are expected to be around tens of millions of gamer addicts worldwide. With such big numbers, one has to wonder how addiction affects other factors like men\u2019s mental health and, by extension, their sexual health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Relationship Between Gaming Addiction, Anxiety, and Depression <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Internet Gaming Disorder, or IGD, isn\u2019t just a term used for those who spend a lot of time on video games. According to the American Psychological Association, the term<\/a> is used only when at least five of nine criteria are met. The criteria include withdrawal, loss of interest in other activities, and gaming to avoid or alleviate guilt, anxiety, and other negative mood states. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Are we saying that gaming leads to depression and anxiety? It\u2019s not always as clear-cut as that. As the criteria states, gaming is often used to escape their negative mood states, so if anything, it\u2019s more of a profound symptom of dealing with situations in a stressful environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, it can become a slippery slope from coping with stress to rewiring your whole routine around gaming. That kind of dynamic will tend to become a self-sustaining source of problems. And that\u2019s where you start to have sexual health issues like premature ejaculation (PE), erectile dysfunction (ED), and other related problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everybody\u2019s heard of the stereotype that gamers and game addicts have no sex lives. While it\u2019s inaccurate, many negative factors to gaming addiction could affect one\u2019s sexual health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Obesity may be one factor, as it\u2019s often pointed out how being preoccupied with gaming often discourages going out for exercise. But it\u2019s also down to an increase in food intake. According to Science Direct<\/a>, increases in food intake are normal during game sessions, no matter the current appetite of participants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Regarding sex, video games aren\u2019t exactly known for giving players a realistic interpretation of romance or a healthy sex life. Games like Persona 5 or other role-playing games (RPG) with a romance option will have you believe that performing a specific quest and saying the right thing at the right moment will get you a relationship (and some sexy time). <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a study<\/a>, consistent gameplay in games that promote misguided sexist attitudes can influence participants in the short term\u2014making them even more likely to endorse sexual harassment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Self-esteem issues can also arise from gaming addiction. Research<\/a> from the University of Southampton suggests that higher rates of gaming disorder are associated with lower self-esteem for respondents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to research<\/a>, the craving to play can often be seen as pleasurable. But the same research suggests that addicted players have actually begun to blur the lines between short-term pleasure and longer-term happiness, a dangerous thing to confuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Poor self-control and restraint can be a big warning for how you deal with extended access to your gaming console. This is especially problematic when you remember that video games are designed for extreme replayability, rewarding users with the promise of more and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Surveyed gaming disorder respondents report being irritable or depressed when not playing games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the saying goes: \u201cPlay the game, never let it play you.\u201d It\u2019s fine to enjoy games (or any other hobby), but never let it take up more than a handful of hours in your day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also join support groups for game addicts if you\u2019ve been diagnosed as one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are covered by a good medical plan, it is time to make good use of it. Talking things out is an excellent way of learning more about yourself and what you really need to control your gaming obsession. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding out where your sexual needs and wants lie can be a priority. If you don\u2019t have a partner you can explore with, there are a number of toys you can order online to test what your body prefers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, several studies have found links between gaming addiction and men\u2019s mental and sexual well-being. Gaming addiction is considered as a mental disorder. Research has found that people addicted to gaming have low sex drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can keep devices out of the bedroom, so you won\u2019t have the urge to play into the night. You can also do other activities, like going out or exercising. It\u2019s best to consult with a mental health expert to manage gaming addiction as it is classified as a disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may be addicted to gaming when you experience a relentless craving to play, a feeling of depression when not gaming, and an inability to stop playing even if needed. While these are common factors among gaming addicts, it\u2019s best to have a sitdown with a mental health professional who will give a formal medical diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When was the last time you went for a checkup? It might be time to take a proactive step towards your overall well-being and consult with the pros. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think you have a gaming addiction and are dealing with either ED or PE, don\u2019t hesitate to consult with a mental health expert. You never know if there are other reasons why you might have issues like ED or PE. It might not even be related to your day-to-day gaming hobby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reach out to us at Men\u2019s Health Clinic (MHC)<\/a> for comprehensive men\u2019s health services. MHC is not just about ED and PE treatments. We have a reliable team of mental health experts who can provide support for concerns related to sexual health and gaming addiction. Get started by answering our two-minute questionnaire<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Did you know that gaming addiction is already classified as a public health problem and medical disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO)? It\u2019s even got a name: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,34,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-erectile-dysfunction","category-premature-ejaculation","category-sexual-dysfunction"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=815"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2564,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/815\/revisions\/2564"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/menshealthclinic.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Sexual Health Consequences of Gaming Addiction <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Gaming](\"https:\/\/images.prismic.io\/menshealthclinic1\/cc52bf5f-41fd-4136-9b72-cdf429514473_MHC_Blog+Cover+-+Gaming+Addiction%E2%80%99s+Effects+on+Men%E2%80%99s+Mental+%26+Sexual+Health_101723_KT_2.png?auto=compress,format\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Recognising the Signs of Gaming Addiction
<\/h3>\n\n\n\nRelentless Craving to Play <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Inability to Stop Playing <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Depression and Negativity When Away from the Screen <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Strategies for Promoting Mental and Sexual Well-being in Young Men <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Moderate Your Hobby Time <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Find New Avenues of Social Interaction <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Consult a Psychiatrist\/Psychologist <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Explore What You Like in the Bedroom and Beyond <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Key Takeaways: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does gaming addiction affect a man\u2019s mental health and sexual health? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What are ways to avoid gaming addiction? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
How do I know if I\u2019m addicted to gaming? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Talk to Us at Men\u2019s Health Clinic (MHC) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n